Public Service

Our firm has long recognized that lawyers have special responsibilities for public service. We encourage our lawyers to give of their time and talents, not only to our profession, but to our communities. Actions speak louder than words.

Professional Service and Honors
Members of our firm have served as president of the North Carolina State Bar (NCSB); twice as presidents of the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA); on the governing bodies of both those organizations; appointed positions in public bodies overseeing discipline of judges and lawyers; leadership positions in various bar organizations; and have received numerous professional honors. A few specific examples of commitment to our ideal of public service by individual lawyers:

John Leidy: First President of the N.C. Association of Community College Attorneys, October, 2007; Board of Directors of the Conference of School Attorneys, 2008 - .

Ben Gallop: member of the NCBA Technology Advisory Committee, 2006- .

Vann Irvin: Board of Directors, College of the Albemarle Foundation.

Firm Administrator, Gayle Eason is serving a three year term on the NCBA Law Practice Management Section Council beginning in 2008.

Community Service
Firm members have given back to their communities over the years. Examples:

drive chairmen for numerous public and charitable public drives;

officers and directors of chambers of commerce;

numerous leadership positions in civic clubs;

trustees/directors of the Museum of the Albemarle, Albemarle Area Arts Council, Roanoke Island Historical Association, Albemarle Manna, Albemarle Hopeline; Elizabeth City and Dare Red Cross, Boys and Girls Club of Elizabeth City, Crime Line and three community foundations.

On a regular basis, several members of our firm will be serving on vestries and administrative boards of their churches. Our lawyers have served as instructors at Elizabeth City State University, College of the Albemarle and North Carolina Academy of Real Estate. Our members have conducted seminars for the public on various topics, including Wage and Hour Law; Employment Law; and Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning.